By Josephine Sesay
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, has opened the Third International Conference of the West African Anglophone Quality Assurance Network (WAAQAN), calling for a stronger and more forward-looking approach to quality assurance in higher education across the region.
The conference, held at the University of Makeni, brought together academic leaders, quality assurance professionals and other higher education stakeholders from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for improving academic standards and strengthening the relevance of higher education.
The conference is being held under the theme, “Reimagining Quality Assurance in African Higher Education: Relevance, Impact, and Technological Integration in the Era of Digital Transformation.”
In her keynote address, Dr Wurie urged universities to move away from viewing quality assurance as a periodic exercise conducted mainly to meet accreditation requirements.
She said quality assurance should instead become an integral part of the daily operations and culture of higher education institutions, supported by evidence, data and continuous improvement.
“Quality assurance must be more than compliance or an exercise we undertake when accreditation is due,” Dr Wurie said.
According to the Minister, universities must ensure that their programmes, research and graduates respond effectively to the changing needs of African societies.
She emphasised the importance of using data and evidence to identify gaps, improve institutional performance and ensure that higher education delivers meaningful outcomes for students and communities.
Dr Wurie also highlighted the growing influence of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on higher education, noting that technological advancement presents both opportunities and responsibilities for institutions.
She said digital tools could enhance accountability, improve efficiency and support data-driven decision-making, but stressed that their adoption must be purposeful, ethical and responsible.
“Digital transformation is not simply about acquiring technology; it is about using it to make our institutions smarter, our decisions better and our education more relevant, while protecting academic integrity, privacy and human judgement,” she said.
The Minister further called on universities and quality assurance bodies across Anglophone West Africa to strengthen their participation in WAAQAN as a platform for sharing knowledge, establishing common standards and promoting mutual accountability.
She said stronger regional collaboration would enable institutions to learn from one another and collectively address challenges facing higher education.
“We must move from islands of excellence to networks of excellence, learning from one another, strengthening our systems and building a higher education ecosystem that is credible, relevant and fit for Africa’s future,” Dr Wurie said.
She noted that the future of higher education would depend not only on maintaining existing standards but also on anticipating emerging needs and preparing institutions to respond effectively to technological, economic and social changes.
Concluding her address, Dr Wurie stressed that quality assurance should be viewed as a continuous process aimed at preparing institutions for the future.
“Quality is not simply about assuring the education we have today; it is about building the quality we need tomorrow,” she added.
The Third WAAQAN International Conference is expected to provide a platform for participants to exchange experiences, examine emerging trends in quality assurance and explore how technology can be responsibly integrated into higher education systems across Africa.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 7th September 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
